Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Prince Philip taken to Papworth Hospital

The Duke of Edinburgh, the 90-year-old husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, has been taken to hospital for 'precautionary tests' after suffering from chest pains.

'His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was taken to Papworth Hospital in Cambridge from Sandringham House for precautionary tests after experiencing chest pains,' Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Papworth hospital describes itself as Britain's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and treats more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year from across the country.

The duke, also known as Prince Philip, was taken from a family Christmas celebration at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, southeast England, to the cardiothoracic unit at the nearby hospital on Friday.

The royal family visits Prince Philip

The prince, who was born in Greece in 1921, is well known for his tireless spirit and outspoken views, and rarely misses royal engagements.

On his 90th birthday in June, he announced plans to cut back his official duties.

The colorful and often outspoken husband of Elizabeth has been a familiar figure at his wife's side for decades. He has championed numerous charities over the years, but is advising the ones he heads to start planning an orderly transition as he plots the end of his working life.

Philip has been at Sandringham since Monday for the royal family's Christmas festivities, Buckingham Palace said.

The royals celebrated a traditional Christmas this past weekend, followed by a year's worth of festivities to mark the queen's 60th year on the throne.

Elizabeth and Philip are planning to mark the event with a series of tours throughout England to culminate with a celebration in London in early June that will include an unprecedented pageant on the River Thames with up to 1000 boats taking part.

Most of the senior royals, including Prince William and his wife, now formally known as the Duchess of Cambridge, will be dispatched across the globe to help the ageing monarch celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.

Papworth hospital describes itself as Britain's largest specialist cardiothoracic hospital and treats more than 22,800 inpatient and day cases and 53,400 outpatients each year from across the country.

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